A method and device for solving inconsistency of user plane state of core network and base station

Abstract

The application discloses a method and device for solving the inconsistency of user plane state between a core network and a base station, and relates to the technical field of mobile communication. The method comprises the following steps: the core network receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when the user plane detects that the user plane cannot normally transmit data; and the core network instructs the base station of the user plane to rebuild protocol data unit (PDU) resources in the mode of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state between the core network and the base station. In the case of inconsistency of user plane state in the communication system, the core network rebuilds the PDU resources in the mode of first releasing and then establishing, so as to avoid the base station of the user plane from establishing the PDU resources again in the case of existing PDU resources, and solve the inconsistency of user plane state in the communication system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a method and device for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a communication system, the main network elements of the user plane are the terminal, the base station and the UPF (User Plane Function). In the existing situation, the user plane state between the SMF (Session Management Function) of the control plane and the base station and the terminal is synchronized through the service processes AN Release (Access Network Release) and Service Request (Service Request) (refer to the 3GPP 23.502 protocol). However, if the system appears abnormal, the user plane state between the SMF and the base station and the terminal is inconsistent, and the SMF cannot obtain the actual state of the user plane. When a process triggers the SMF to instruct the base station to establish PDU (Protocol Data Unit) resources, if the base station already has PDU resources, the establishment of the PDU resources will fail. SUMMARY

[0003] Embodiments of the present application provide a method and device for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station, aiming to solve the problem that the SMF cannot obtain the actual state of the user plane and the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the embodiments of the present application provide a method for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station, which comprises the following steps:

[0005] The core network receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when the user plane detects that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0006] After receiving the trigger message, the core network instructs the base station of the user plane to rebuild the PDU (Protocol Data Unit) resources in the manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state between the core network and the base station.

[0007] Preferably, the trigger message is a downlink data report message.

[0008] The core network receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when the user plane detects that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0009] The core network receives a downlink data report message generated and sent by the UPF (User Plane Function) of the user plane when the user plane detects that the downlink of the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0010] Preferably, the trigger message is a service request message.

[0011] The core network receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when the user plane detects that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0012] The core network receives a service request message generated and sent by the terminal of the user plane when the terminal detects that the user plane uplink cannot normally transmit data.

[0013] Preferably, after receiving the trigger message, the core network instructs the base station of the user plane to reconstruct the PDU resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station, comprising:

[0014] After receiving the trigger message, the core network sends a PDU resource release message to the base station, so that the base station releases the established PDU resource;

[0015] After sending the PDU resource release message to the base station, the core network sends a request message for establishing the PDU resource to the base station, so that the base station establishes the PDU resource according to the request message.

[0016] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the embodiment of the present application further provides a method for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station, comprising:

[0017] Detecting whether the user plane can normally transmit data;

[0018] When it is detected that the user plane cannot normally transmit data, sending a trigger message to the core network to trigger the core network to instruct the base station of the user plane to reconstruct the protocol data unit (PDU) resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station.

[0019] Preferably, the detection of whether the user plane can normally transmit data comprises:

[0020] When the user plane function (UPF) of the user plane needs to transmit downlink data, the UPF detects whether the user plane downlink can normally transmit data;

[0021] When the terminal of the user plane needs to transmit uplink data, the terminal detects whether the user plane uplink can normally transmit data.

[0022] Preferably, the trigger message is a downlink data report message;

[0023] The detection of whether the user plane can normally transmit data comprises:

[0024] When the UPF detects that the user plane downlink cannot normally transmit data, a downlink data report message is generated and sent to the core network, so that the core network reestablishes the PDU resource by sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing a PDU resource to the base station of the user plane in turn.

[0025] Preferably, the trigger message is a service request message.

[0026] The method for synchronizing the user plane state of the core network and the base station comprises the following steps:

[0027] When the terminal detects that the user plane uplink cannot normally transmit data, a service request message is generated and sent to the core network, so that the core network reestablishes the PDU resource by sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing a PDU resource to the base station of the user plane in turn.

[0028] To achieve the above object, the embodiment of the present application further provides a device for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state of the core network and the base station, which comprises:

[0029] The receiving module is configured to receive, at the core network, a trigger message sent by the user plane when the user plane detects that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0030] The control module is configured to instruct the base station of the user plane to reestablish the PDU resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station, after the core network receives the trigger message.

[0031] To achieve the above object, the embodiment of the present application further provides a device for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state of the core network and the base station, which comprises:

[0032] The detection module is configured to detect whether the user plane can normally transmit data.

[0033] The trigger module is configured to trigger the core network to instruct the base station of the user plane to reestablish the PDU resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station, by sending a trigger message to the core network when it is detected that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0034] In the case of inconsistency of the user plane state of the communication system, the core network reestablishes the PDU resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to avoid the base station of the user plane from establishing the PDU resource again in the case that the PDU resource already exists, and solve the inconsistency of the user plane state in the communication system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 is a first flow chart of a method for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 2 is a second flow chart of a method for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 3 is a structural block diagram of a communication system;

[0038] Figure 4 is an interactive flow chart of the present application applied to a paging scenario;

[0039] Figure 5 is an interactive flow chart of the present application applied to a service request flow;

[0040] Figure 6 is a first schematic structural block diagram of an apparatus for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 7 is a second schematic structural block diagram of an apparatus for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein merely exemplify the application and do not limit the application.

[0043] In the following description, the suffixes such as "module", "part", or "unit" used for an element are merely used to facilitate the explanation of the present application, and have no particular meaning by itself. Thus, "module", "part", or "unit" can be mixedly used.

[0044] Figure 1 is a first flow chart of a method for solving the inconsistency of the user plane state between the core network and the base station provided by an embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 1 the method can include:

[0045] Step S101: The core network receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when detecting that the user plane cannot normally transmit data.

[0046] The trigger message can be a downlink data report message, specifically, the core network receives a downlink data report message generated and sent by the UPF when detecting that the user plane downlink cannot normally transmit data.

[0047] The trigger message can also be a service request message, specifically, a service request message generated and sent by a terminal receiving a user plane of the core network when detecting that the user plane uplink cannot normally transmit data.

[0048] Step S102: After receiving the trigger message, the core network instructs the base station of the user plane to rebuild the protocol data unit (PDU) resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station.

[0049] Specifically, after receiving the trigger message, the core network sends a PDU resource release message to the base station, so that the base station releases the established PDU resource, and after sending the PDU resource release message to the base station, sends a request message for establishing the PDU resource to the base station, so that the base station establishes the PDU resource according to the request message.

[0050] The above step S101 and step S102 of the embodiment can be applied to a network element SMF of the core network.

[0051] The embodiment of the application rebuilds the PDU resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing when the user plane state of the communication system is inconsistent, and solves the inconsistent user plane state in the communication system.

[0052] Figure 2 is a second flowchart of the method for solving the inconsistent user plane state of the core network and the base station provided by the embodiment of the application, as shown in Figure 2 The method can include the following steps:

[0053] Step S201: Detect whether the user plane can normally transmit data.

[0054] Specifically, when a user plane function (UPF) of the user plane needs to transmit downlink data, the UPF detects whether the user plane downlink can normally transmit data. When a terminal of the user plane needs to transmit uplink data, the terminal detects whether the user plane uplink can normally transmit data.

[0055] Step S202: When it is detected that the user plane cannot normally transmit data, trigger the core network to instruct the base station of the user plane to rebuild the protocol data unit (PDU) resource in a manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the user plane state of the core network and the base station, by sending a trigger message to the core network.

[0056] The trigger message can be a downlink data report message, specifically, when the UPF detects that the user plane downlink cannot normally transmit data, generates a downlink data report message, and sends the downlink data report message to the core network, so that the core network rebuilds the PDU resource by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing the PDU resource to the base station of the user plane.

[0057] The trigger message can also be a service request message, specifically, when the terminal detects that the user plane uplink cannot normally transmit data, a service request message is generated and sent to the core network, so that the core network reestablishes the PDU resource by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing a PDU resource to the base station of the user plane.

[0058] From the embodiment, it can be known that the above steps S101 and S102 of the embodiment can be applied to the terminal or the UPF of the user plane.

[0059] In the case of inconsistent user plane state of the communication system, the user plane triggers the core network to reestablish the PDU resource in the mode of first releasing and then establishing through the paging process or the service request process, so as to solve the inconsistent user plane state in the communication system.

[0060] The SMF service process prevents the base station from repeatedly establishing the PDU resource, including the following scenarios:

[0061] Scenario 1, UPF-triggered paging process, the SMF first sends a PDU resource release message to the base station through the interface provided by the AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), and then sends a request for establishing a PDU resource to the base station through the interface of the AMF.

[0062] In this scenario, when the UPF has downlink data packets to be transmitted, it detects that the user plane downlink is abnormal (not connected), reports to the SMF, and the SMF adopts the mode of first releasing and then establishing to establish the PDU resource, and the specific process is as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , which can include the following steps:

[0063] Step 1, when the UPF has downlink data packets to be transmitted, it detects that the user plane downlink is not connected, and reports to the SMF.

[0064] Step 2, the SMF cannot know whether the PDU resource of the base station exists, first sends a PDU resource release message (PDU Resource Release) to the RAN (or base station) through the N1N2 message transmission request (N1N2 Message Transfer Request) interface provided by the AMF.

[0065] Step 3, the AMF unconditionally sends the PDU resource release message (PDU Resource Release) to the RAN (or base station).

[0066] Step 4, SMF continues the paging procedure regardless of whether the release response from RAN is received, and sends a request for PDU resource setup to RAN (or base station) again through the N1N2 Message Transfer Request interface provided by AMF.

[0067] Step 5, after receiving the N1N2 Message Transfer Request message carrying the PDU resource setup request, AMF normally processes the paging procedure and sends the PDU resource setup request to RAN (or base station).

[0068] Scenario 2, terminal-triggered service request procedure, SMF first sends a PDU resource release message to the base station through the interface provided by AMF, and then sends a request for PDU resource setup to the base station through the response to AMF. AMF needs to be able to process the request message containing the PDU resource release message first.

[0069] In this scenario, when the terminal needs to send uplink user plane data, it detects that the user plane is not available, initiates a service request procedure, and SMF uses the first release and then setup method to establish PDU resources. The specific process is as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4 may include the following steps:

[0070] Step 1, the terminal initiates a service request (Service Request) to establish a user plane channel (refer to 3GPP 23.502 protocol);

[0071] Step 2, SMF receives a service request message (PDU Session Update Sm Context Request (Activating));

[0072] Step 3, SMF cannot know whether the PDU resource of the base station exists, and first sends a PDU resource release message (PDU Resource Release) to RAN (or base station) through the N1N2 Message Transfer Request interface provided by AMF;

[0073] Step 4, AMF unconditionally sends the PDU resource release message (PDU Resource Release) to RAN (or base station).

[0074] Step 5: Regardless of whether the SMF receives a release response from the RAN, it continues the service request process by sending a request to the RAN (or base station) to establish PDU resources via a response message (PDU Session Update Sm Context Response) to the AMF.

[0075] Step 6: After receiving the response message carrying the request to establish PDU resources, AMF will process this business request normally.

[0076] In the case of inconsistent user plane states in the communication system, the core network SMF prevents the base station from repeatedly establishing PDU resources by releasing PDU resources first and then establishing PDU resources, thus resolving the inconsistency of user plane states in the communication system.

[0077] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention resolve inconsistencies in the user plane state of the communication system during the execution of the business process without relying on behavioral constraints on the base station or terminal, and therefore do not affect the normal execution of the business.

[0078] Figure 6 This is a first schematic structural block diagram of the apparatus for resolving inconsistencies between the user plane states of the core network and the base station, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, this device is applied to core network elements, such as SMF, and may include a receiving module and a control module.

[0079] The receiving module is configured to receive a trigger message sent by the user plane in the core network when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit data normally. The trigger message can be a downlink data report message, which the receiving module receives when the UPF (User Plane Filter) detects that the user plane downlink data cannot transmit normally. Alternatively, the trigger message can be a service request message, which the receiving module receives when the user plane terminal detects that the user plane uplink data cannot transmit normally.

[0080] The control module is configured to, upon receiving the trigger message from the core network, instruct the user plane base station to reconstruct Protocol Data Unit (PDU) resources using a release-then-establishment approach, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the core network and the base station. Specifically, after receiving the trigger message, the control module sends a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing it to release the established PDU resources. Following this message, the control module also sends a PDU resource establishment request message to the base station, enabling it to establish PDU resources based on the request message.

[0081] The device provided by the embodiment of the application can solve the inconsistent state of the user plane in the communication system.

[0082] Figure 7 Figure 2 is a second schematic structural block diagram of the device for solving the inconsistent state of the user plane between the core network and the base station provided by the embodiment of the application, as shown in the figure, the device is applied to the user plane, for example, is applied to the UPF, the terminal, etc., and the device can include a detection module and a triggering module, wherein: Figure 7

[0083] The detection module is used to detect whether the user plane can normally transmit data.

[0084] The triggering module is used to, when it is detected that the user plane cannot normally transmit data, trigger the core network to instruct the base station of the user plane to reconstruct the protocol data unit (PDU) resource in the manner of first releasing and then establishing, so as to synchronize the state of the user plane between the core network and the base station, by sending a triggering message to the core network.

[0085] In one embodiment, the device is applied to the UPF, the detection module detects whether the user plane downlink can normally transmit data when the UPF needs to transmit downlink data, and when it is detected that the user plane downlink cannot normally transmit data, the triggering module generates a triggering message (i.e., a downlink data report message) and sends the downlink data report message to the core network, so that the core network reconstructs the PDU resource by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing the PDU resource to the base station of the user plane.

[0086] In another embodiment, the device is applied to the terminal, the detection module detects whether the user plane uplink can normally transmit data when the terminal needs to transmit uplink data, and when it is detected that the user plane uplink cannot normally transmit data, the triggering module generates a triggering message (i.e., a service request message) and sends the service request message to the core network, so that the core network reconstructs the PDU resource by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a request message for establishing the PDU resource to the base station of the user plane.

[0087] The device provided by the embodiment of the application can solve the inconsistent state of the user plane in the communication system.

[0088] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or some steps in the method disclosed above, the functions of the modules / units in the system and the device can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware and appropriate combinations thereof.

[0089] ​In hardware implementations, the division of functionality between the functional modules / units referred to in the above description does not necessarily correspond to a division of physical components; for example, one physical component can have multiple functionalities, or one functionality or step can be performed by several physical components in cooperation. Certain physical components or all physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on computer readable media, which can include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transitory media). As is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. Further, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media.

[0090] The preferred embodiments of the present application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application shall fall within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for resolving inconsistencies in user plane states between the core network and base stations, applied to the Session Management Function (SMF) of network elements in the core network, characterized in that, The method includes: SMF receives a trigger message sent by the user plane when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit data normally; After receiving the trigger message, the SMF instructs the user plane base station to rebuild the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) resources in a release-then-establish manner, so that the SMF and the user plane state of the base station are synchronized. After receiving the trigger message, the SMF instructs the user plane base station to rebuild the PDU resources in a release-then-establishment manner, so that the user plane state of the SMF and the base station is synchronized. This includes: after receiving the trigger message, the SMF sends a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing the base station to release the established PDU resources; after sending the PDU resource release message to the base station, the SMF sends a request message to the base station to establish PDU resources, causing the base station to establish PDU resources according to the request message. The SMF receives trigger messages sent by the user plane when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit data normally, including: when the trigger message is a downlink data report message, the SMF receives a downlink data report message generated and sent by the user plane function UPF when it detects that the user plane downlink cannot transmit data normally; when the trigger message is a service request message, the SMF receives a service request message generated and sent by the user plane terminal when it detects that the user plane uplink cannot transmit data normally.

2. A method for resolving inconsistencies between the user plane states of the core network and base stations, characterized in that, The method includes: Check if the user plane can transmit data normally; When a user plane is detected as unable to transmit data normally, a trigger message is sent to the core network element SMF to trigger the SMF to instruct the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources in a release-then-establishment manner, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station. The process of the SMF instructing the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources in a release-then-establishment manner to synchronize the user plane state of the SMF and the base station includes: the SMF sending a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing the base station to release the established PDU resources; after sending the PDU resource release message to the base station, the SMF sending a request message to establish PDU resources to the base station, causing the base station to establish PDU resources according to the request message. The detection of whether the user plane can transmit data normally includes: when the user plane UPF needs to transmit downlink data, the UPF detects whether the user plane downlink data can be transmitted normally; when the user plane terminal needs to transmit uplink data, the terminal detects whether the user plane uplink data can be transmitted normally. When a user plane is detected as unable to transmit data normally, the process of sending a trigger message to the core network element SMF to instruct the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources using a release-then-establishment method, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station, includes: when the trigger message is a downlink data report message, when the UPF detects that the user plane downlink cannot transmit data normally, it generates a downlink data report message and sends the downlink data report message to the SMF, so that the SMF can rebuild the PDU resources by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a PDU resource establishment request message to the user plane base station; when the trigger message is a service request message, when the terminal detects that the user plane uplink cannot transmit data normally, it generates a service request message and sends the service request message to the SMF, so that the SMF can rebuild the PDU resources by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a PDU resource establishment request message to the user plane base station.

3. A device for resolving inconsistencies between the user plane state of the core network and the base station, applied to the network element SMF of the core network, characterized in that, The device includes: The receiving module is used to receive a trigger message sent by the user plane when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit data normally in the SMF; the receiving of the trigger message sent by the user plane when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit data normally in the SMF includes: when the trigger message is a downlink data report message, the SMF receives a downlink data report message generated and sent by the user plane's UPF when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit downlink data normally; when the trigger message is a service request message, the SMF receives a service request message generated and sent by the user plane's terminal when it detects that the user plane cannot transmit uplink data normally. The control module is configured to, upon receiving the trigger message, instruct the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources in a release-then-establishment manner, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station. This includes: after receiving the trigger message, the SMF instructs the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources in a release-then-establishment manner, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station; after receiving the trigger message, the SMF sends a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing the base station to release the established PDU resources; and after sending the PDU resource release message to the base station, the SMF sends a request message to the base station to establish PDU resources, causing the base station to establish PDU resources according to the request message.

4. An apparatus for resolving inconsistencies between the user plane states of the core network and base stations, characterized in that, The device includes: The detection module is used to detect whether the user plane can transmit data normally; the detection of whether the user plane can transmit data normally includes: when the user plane UPF needs to transmit downlink data, the UPF detects whether the user plane downlink data can be transmitted normally; when the user plane terminal needs to transmit uplink data, the terminal detects whether the user plane uplink data can be transmitted normally. The triggering module is used to, when a user plane data transmission failure is detected, send a trigger message to the core network element SMF, triggering the SMF to instruct the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources using a release-then-establishment method, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station. The SMF instructing the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources using this method includes: the SMF sending a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing the base station to release the established PDU resources; and after sending the PDU resource release message, the SMF sending a PDU resource establishment request message to the base station, causing the base station to establish PDU resources according to the request message. The step of triggering the SMF to instruct the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources by sending a trigger message when a user plane data transmission failure is detected includes: the SMF sending a PDU resource release message to the base station, causing the base station to release the established PDU resources; and the SMF instructing the user plane base station to rebuild PDU resources using a release-then-establishment method, thereby synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF and the base station. The user plane base station reconstructs PDU resources using a release-then-establishment approach, synchronizing the user plane state of the SMF with that of the base station. This includes: when the trigger message is a downlink data report message, when the UPF detects that downlink data transmission in the user plane cannot proceed normally, it generates a downlink data report message and sends it to the SMF, so that the SMF can reconstruct the PDU resources by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a PDU resource establishment request message to the user plane base station; when the trigger message is a service request message, when the terminal detects that uplink data transmission in the user plane cannot proceed normally, it generates a service request message and sends it to the SMF, so that the SMF can reconstruct the PDU resources by sequentially sending a PDU resource release message and a PDU resource establishment request message to the user plane base station.

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